It’s never too late to go country. Case in point: Ringo Starr is doing it at 84. The oldest living Beatle has announced his first album in six years, Look Up, produced and co-written by T Bone Burnett. The album’s impressive guest list errs more on the Americana and bluegrass side — Alison Krauss, Billy Strings, Larkin Poe, Lucius, Molly Tuttle — but lead single “Time On My Hands,” co-written by Paul Kennerly and Daniel Tashian, is country enough. (Tashian and Bruce Sugar are listed as co-producers on the LP.)
Starr shared this statement about how Look Up came together after he ran into Burnett in 2022:
I’ve always loved country music. And when I asked T Bone to write me a song, I didn’t even think at the time that it would be a country song – but of course it was, and it was so beautiful. I had been making EPs at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP – but when he brought me nine songs I knew we had to make an album! And I am so glad we did. I want to thank, and send Peace & Love, to T Bone and all the great musicians who helped make this record. It was a joy making it and I hope it is a joy to listen to.
Hear “Time On My Hands” below.
This week is also the 16th anniversary of Starr’s classic “no more fan mail” video:
TRACKLIST:
01 “Breathless (feat. Billy Strings)
02 “Look Up” (Feat. Molly Tuttle)
03 “Time On My Hands”
04 “Never Let Me Go” (Feat. Billy Strings)
05 “I Live For Your Love” (Feat. Molly Tuttle)
06 “Come Back” (Feat. Lucius)
07 “Can You Hear Me Call” (Feat. Molly Tuttle)
08 “Rosetta” (Feat. Billy Strings & Larkin Poe)
09 “You Want Some”
10 “String Theory” (Feat. Molly Tuttle & Larkin Poe)
11 “Thankful” (Feat. Alison Krauss)
Look Up is out 1/10 on Lost Highway/Roccabella/UMG Nashville. On 1/14 and 1/15, Starr and friends will perform at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.